Combined structural and air conditioning system for buildings



Aug. 24, 1965 J. B. MEEK ETAL COMBINED STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITI 3,202,078 ONING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1962 Aug. 24, 1965 J. B. MEEK ETAL COMBINED STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS Filed July 20, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 As, J'k.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent snezms COMBINED STRUCTURAL AND AIR (KINDE- TlIGNlNG SYETEM FOR BUELDINGS John B. Meek, St. Clair Shores, William in Vern Niebiing,

Detroit, and Arthur B. Reis, In, Pontiac, Mich, assignors to The R. C. Mahon Company, Warren, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed July 26), 1962, Ser. No. 211,955 It! Qlaims. ((311. 98-44)) This invention relates to building construction and par ticularly to a combined structural and air conditioning system for buildings which system handles large volumes of air that are distributed to zones of the building through longitudinally extending ducts at the rate of one thousand feet per minute or more.

In one commonly used system of building construction, a plurality of structural cells are extended horizontally in side-by-side relation across horizontal supports or beams. In order to provide some acoustical properties to control noise in the room, the bottom wall of each cell is often perforated and acoustical insulating material is provided above the bottom wall. A filling material such as concrete or insulating material is provided over the structural cells to define the basic roof of the room or floor of the overlying level.

It has heretofore been proposed that such structural cells be utilized for distributing air into zones of a build.-

ing by directing the air to one end of the structural cells and permitting it to flow through the perforated bottom wall. A major disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the distribution of air is not uniform along the length of the. structural cells. Moreover, the air passing to the room causes excessive noises and draft with resulting discomfort to the occupants. When larger volumes of air are being handled, such a system has been found entirely unsatisfactory.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combined structural and air conditioning system in order to introduce high volumes of air into the zones of a building.

It is a further object of the invention to utilize structural cells to distribute air uniformly into the zones of the building, that is, at a uniform flow rate per unit length of each structural cell.

it is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein air is uniformly discharged from the structural cells in a predetermined direction preferably at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the structural cells.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein the velocity of discharge of air to the interior of the room is controlled so that it does not objectionably affect the occupants and is preferably not more than about 60 feet per minute at normal head level, six feet above the floor, in accordance with standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein there is adequate mixing of the room It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein the noise produced by discharging air into the zones of the building is kept at a minimum level, preferably not more thana NCA rating of 40 at the head level of the occupants.

Basically, the combined structural and air conditioning system comprises a metering plate or member along the length of each structural cell which is to be used as a part of the air conditioning system thereby forming a longitudinally extending conduit above the metering plate into which the air is introduced at a high rate of flow. Each. metering plate is provided with openings along the length thereof which have their axes at an angle to the direction of movement of the air through the conduit. The size and spacing of the openings in the metering plate is such that the ratio of velocity head through the openings to static pressure at the inlet to the conduit is relatively high and preferably not less than 0.8. As a result, the static pressure in the conduit will be substantially constant and not vary greatly, preferably, not more than 20% from one end of the conduit to the other. Under these conditions, it has been found that the resistance to flow of air through the conduit is substantially compensated for by the regain of static energy from velocity energy. The velocity energy of the air moving through the conduit is converted to static energy which, in turn, causes the air to move at a relatively high velocity through the openings in the metering plate.

In order to prevent discharge of the high velocity streams passing through the metering plate directly on the closely positioned diffusing member or bottom plate, the metering plate is so shaped that the high velocity air streams are directed away from the diffuser plate and the velocity energy is dissipated by impingement on an intermediate balfie surface, preferably formed by the metering plate. The general air turbulence thus created in the area between the metering plate and the diffusing; member substantially reduces the velocity of the air passing through the metering member. The air then flows through the diffusing member into the room in a uniform flow per unit length of the structural cell. i

The air then quickly mixes with the air in the room so that the temperature at a predetermined distance away from the lower face of the structural cells does not vary materially from the temperature of the room. This is achieved with a minimum of noise.

In the drawings:

. FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a building embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the building shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan View taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 of one of the structural cells which is used as an air conduit.

PEG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of structural cell.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a fied form of structural cell.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a further modified form of structural cell.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of a further modified form of structural cell.

further modi- FIG. is a transverse sectional view of a further modified form of structural cell.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view of a further modified form of structural cell.

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view of a further modified form of structural cell.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a building embodying the invention comprises a plurality of horizontal supports such as beams 20, 21 and 22 across which the structural cells 23 extend. Structural cells 23 are generally cellular in cross section, as presently described, and are made of sheet metal members bent into the desired shape and assembled. A filler material such as concrete 24, insulating board or the like forms the overlying surface of the construction.

One or more of the structural cells 23 is used as an air conduit for directing air into the zones of the building such as rooms. Other structural cells 23 may be used as wire conduits, or other purposes.

The air at high velocity is directed from a source through a main conduit 25. The air has been pre-mixed and is at the desired temperature for conditioning the atmosphere in the room to which it is directed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the air preferably passes laterally from conduit 25 through connectors 26, 27 to one end of the structural cells 23 at a high velocity on the order of 1000 feet per minute or more.

Referring to FIG. 4, each structural cell 23 comprises an upper sheet metal member 30 which is generally U-shaped in cross section and a bottom sheet metal memher or diffuser plate 31 which is generally fl-at. The side walls 32 of the upper member 3% have laterally extending longitudinal flanges 33. The bottom member 31 has a U-shaped downwardly opening lip 34 extending along one longitudinal edge and an upwardly extending lip 35 extending along the other longitudinal edge. Adjacent lips 34, 35 of adjacent structural cells 23 interconnect in the manner shown in FIG. 4 to provide a connected structure.

In accordance with the invention, an intermediate sheet metal metering plate or member 36 is provided along the entire length of each structural cell 23 which is utilized as an air conduit. One end of intermediate member 36 is closed by a baffle 37 and the other end thereof abuts the end wall of the conduit as shown in FIG. 1 at 38. In this manner, the are-a above the metering member 36 is isolated from the area below the metering member and forms a conduit 40. The air introduced at one end of the structural cell 23 is then free to flow throughout the conduit area 48 above the plate. Alternatively, the air may be introduced at a point along the length of the conduit at both ends, or at a plurality of points along the length of the conduit.

As shown in FIG. 4-, the metering member 36 includes fiat longitudinally extending edge portions 41 interposed between the bottom plate 31 and the flanges 33,

inclined portions 42 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the inner edges of the edge portions ill, short lateral portions d3 extending inwardly and horizontally from the inner edges of the inclined portions 42, vertical portions 44 extending downwardly from the inner edges of the lateral portions 43 and a central horizontal portion 45 connecting the lower edges of the vertical portions 44 and spaced from the bottom plate 31.

Each of the vertical portions 44 is provided with openings 46, the openings 46:: in one of the vertical portions 44 being spaced longitudinally from the openings 46b in the other vertical portion 44 (FIG. 5). Perforations 47 are provided at uniformly spaced relation along the bottom plate 31. The aggregate area of the openings 46 in the wall portions 44 is less than the aggregate area of the openings 47 in diffuser plate 31 along the length of the conduit.

By this arrangement, the high rate of air flow through the conduit results in a substantial build up of static pressure throughout the length of the conduit. It has been found that the resistance to flow of air through the conduit is substantially compensated for by the regain of static energy from velocity energy. The velocity pressure of air through openings 46 bears a high ratio to the static pressure in the conduit This ratio is preferably not less than 0.8. Expressed in terms of an empirical formula the relationship is:

where h static pressure at cell inlet (inches watergage) h static pressure at extreme end of cell (inches waters h =velocity pressure thru metering holes (inches water- Further, the static pressure drop in the cell at the high velocities involved does not exceed a small percentage of the static pressure available at the inlet to the conduit 40, and preferably is not greater than 20 percent from one end of the conduit to the other. This relationship can be illustrated by the empirical formula:

The positioning of the openings 46 in such a manner that their axes form an angle preferably a right angle with the direction of movement of air along the axis of the conduit insures that the velocity energy of the moving air through the conduit is not transmitted through the openings 46. As the air issues from the openings 46, it impinges directly against inclined portions 42 which act as battles and thereby reduce the Velocity of the air and prevent the high velocity air from contacting the plate 31 directly. This minimizes the noise which would normally occur by direct impimement of air upon the perforated plate 31 at the relatively high velocities involved. The positioning of the openings 46 at longitudinally spaced points insures proper dispersal of the individual streams of air passing through openings 46.

The loss of energy in the area between the metering plate 36 and bottom plate 31 insures that the velocity of the air entering the room will be such that the desired conditions are established in the room.

As a net result, the reduction in velocity of the air between the metering plate 36 and perforated plate 31 further reduces the entering air velocities into the room so that the noise level in the room is below a predetermined value, referably, NCA 40 rating.

The air passing to the area below the diffuser plate 31, in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, emanates in substantially two streams underlying the portions 42, 43 and mixes a short distance below the plate 31. The volume of air emanating per unit length of the struc tural cell 23 is substantially uniform. In this manner, high volumes of air entering the structural cells 23 at velocities on the order of W00 feet per minute or more are distributed to the zones of the building. The air emanates at a right angle to the horizontal plane of the difiuser plates 31 and at a relatively low velocity so that at normal head level the occupants are not objectionably affected and the emanating air does not have a significant velocity along the longitudinal axis of the cell which would tend to cause the air to pile up at one end of the room. The manner in which the air is introduced results in a quick mixing with the room air so that a large mass of air at a temperature different than room temperature does not accumulate and the temperature at a predetermined distance away from the lower face of the structural cells does not vary materially from the temperature of the room. Moreover, this is accompanied with a minimum of noise In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the portions 42 of the metering plate 36a have been made straight and vertical as shown at 42a. In this form, the air moves through the longitudinally staggered openings 46c, 46d in a normal direction onto the surfaces 42a. The edges of the openings 46c, 46d may be flared in the direction of air movement through the openings resulting in a further minimizing of the noise due to passage of air through these openings.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7, metering plate 5%) comprises a central U-shaped portion 51 having side walls 52 extending to the perforated plate 31 and upwardly extending trapezoidal portions 53 which define spaces 54. Longitudinally staggered openings 52a, 52b direct air streams against the opposite walls 52 between the opposite openings. Insulation 55 may be provided in these spaces to assist in controlling the acoustical properties by absorbing room noises. Similarly, in the form shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, acoustical insulation (not shown) may be provided in the space A.

in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 8, the intermediate metering plate 56 comprises a central trapezoidal portion 57 defining a space 58 overlying the plate 31 and lateral U-shaped portions 59, the sides at), 61 of which extend downwardly to the plate. The longitudinally staggered openings 62 in the sides 60 define the connections or passages through which the air passes from the space or conduit 40 laterally against the walls 61 and thereafter through the perforations 31. Insulation may be provided in the space 58.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 9, the

metering plate 65 comprises a U-shaped portion 66 having side walls 67, 63 extending downwardly to the perforated plate 31 and a horizontal wall 69 extending from the wall 67 to the side wall 32. A flange '70 is interposed between the flanges 33 and the bottom plate 31. The openings in the metering plate 65 are provided at '71 along the wall 68 for directing the air against the portion 67 before it passes downwardly through the perforated plate 31.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 10, the intermediate metering plate '75 comprises two U-shaped portions 76 having side walls 77, 78 extending downwardly to the perforated plate 31a and connected by a horizontal wall '79 abutting the plate 31a. The openings 3d are provided in the wall 77 for directingthe air against the wall 78, in order to prevent an unsightly appearance, the portion of the bottom wall 31a below the wall 79 is unperforated.

in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 11, intermediate metering plate 85 is formed with two U-shaped portions '76 in the same manner as the form shown in FIG. 10 connected by an intermediate V-shaped portion 36 defining a space 87 into which insulation 88 can be interposed for assisting and controlling the acoustical properties. i

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 12 comprises an intermediate metering plate Ml that includes an angle portion 91 at one end which cooperates with the side wall 32 to define a space 92 and a horizontal portion 93 bent from the lower wall 94 of the portion 91 to define a horizontal portion spaced from the perforated plate 31 and defining a space 95 into which insulation as is placed. Longitudinally spaced openings 97 in the wall 94 provide passages through which the air passes from the conduit 4d into the space 92 and thereafter to the perforated plate 31.

It has been found that the openings in the metering plate are preferably spaced at least of an inch from the bafile wall portion against which the air passing through these openings impinges. In addition, the openings in the metering plate are preferably spaced at least of an inch from the bottom plate.

Typical examples of structural cells embodying the above preferred relationships and having anoverall cross section of 7 /2 inches in height and 9% inches in width are as follows? Example I Ina room having the dimensions of 30 feet by 52 feet by 8 feet 8 /2 inches, 8 structural cells, 30 feet in length,

were used embodying the general. cross section shown in FIG. 4. -These cells effectively handled 310 cubic feet per minute per cell and provided a uniform distribution along the length of each cell with the desired noise, temperature and absence of turbulence conditions within the room.

Example II Example III In a room 32 feet by 44 feet by 8 feet 8 /2 inches, 8 cells were extended along the 32 foot length of the. room and having the same cross section as shown in FIG. 6. Each cell effectively handled 232 cubic feet per minute.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided a combined structural and air conditioning system whereby high volumes of air may be introducedto zones of a building through structural cells at a uniform flow rate per unit length of each structural cell; in such a manner that the velocity of discharge into the zone does. not objectionally affect the occupants; in such a manner that there is adequate mixing of the room air with the air being delivered so that the temperature at a predetermined distance away from the lower face of the structural cells does not vary materially from the temperature in the room; in such a manner that the noise produced by discharging air into the zones of a building is kept at a minimum level. i

' We claim:

l. In a building, a combined structural andair conditioning system for handling large volumes of air comprising spaced apart horizontal supports, a plurality of structural cells extending in side-by-side relation across said supports, each said cell having a length many times its width and height, at least some of said structural cells defining longitudinally extending air conduits, an insulating material over said structural cells, each said structural cell having a bottom diffuser memher with openings therethrough, each said structural cell which defines an air conduit having an intermediate metering member extending along substantially the entire length thereof,

said intermediate member dividing said cell into a main.

chamber and a secondary chamber adjacent said diffuser member, 7

each said metering member having portions thereof spaced from theditfuser member and having openings along the length thereof, l

said openings in each said metering member being positioned such that the axis thereof is at an angle to the direction of flow of air through said conduits,

means for introducing air to each said conduit having an angle other than perpendicular with respect to the general plane of said diffuser member,

the aggregate area of the openings in said metering member being less than the aggregate area of the openings in said diffuser member such that a substantial static pressure is created in each said air conduit and the ratio of the velocity pressure in the openings in said metering member to the static pressure in said air conduit is relatively high,

each said structural cell defining an air conduit including a bafiie wall portion against which the air passing through the metering member is directed.

2. The combination set forth in claim it wherein said baflle wall portion is spaced at least of an inch from the openings in said metering member.

3. In a building, a combined structural and air conditioning system for handling large volumes of air comprising spaced apart horizontal supports,

a plurality of structural cells extending in side-by-side relation across said supports,

each said cell having a length many times its Width and 7 height,

at least some of said structural cells defining longitudinally extending air conduits,

an insulation material over said structural cells,

each said structural cell having a bottom diffuser member with openings therethrough,

each said structural cell which defines an air conduit having an intermediate metering member extending along the entire length thereof which defines the air conduit,

said intermediate member dividing said cell into a main chamber and a secondary chamber adjacent said diffuser member, each said metering member having portions thereof spaced from the diffusing member and having openings therethrough extending along the entire length thereof,

the aggregate area of the openings in said metering member being less than the aggregate area of the openings in said diffusing member such that the velocity energy of the high volume of air moving into said conduit is converted to static pressure, and said air is caused to move through the openings in said metering member at a relatively high velocity,

the ratio of the velocity pressure through the openings in the metering member to the static pressure of the air above the metering member being not less than 0.8,

the static pressure drop from the inlet to said air conduit to the extreme end of said air conduit being not greater than 0.2,

each said structural cell defining an air conduit including a baflle wall portion against which the air passing through the metering member is directed.

4. For use in a building, a combined structural and air conditioning system for handling large volumes of air comprising a plurality of structural cells adapted to extend in sideby-side relation across horizontal supports,

each said cell having a length many times its Width and height,

each said cell comprisinga substantially fiat bottom member and a substantially U-shaped inverted upper member,

each said bottom member having openings therethrough along the length thereof,

at least some of said structural cells having intermediate metering members, extending longitudinally thereof, said upper, intermediate and bottom members having complementary fianges extending longitudinally 1 along their edges,

each said metering member having a portion thereof spaced from the bottom member and defining a longitudinally extending space along said bottom member,

each said portion of said metering member having openings therein along the length thereof positioned such that the axis of flow of air therethrough is at an angle to the direction of fiow through said conduit,

means for introducing air into each said structural cell which defines an air conduit, 7

at least some of said openings in said metering member having their axes at an angle to the general plane of the bottom member, 7

the aggregate area of the openings in the metering member being less than the aggregate area of the openings in the bottom member,

each said metering member including a'longitudinally extending baffle portion against which the air passing 7 through the openings in the metering members impinges. 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the axis of the openings in said metering member is at a right angle to the plane of said bottom member.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said baffle portion is inclined with respect to the plane of said bottom member.

'7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said bafiie portion is at a right angle to the plane of said bottom member.

8. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said spaced portion of said intermediate member comprises only a part of the width of said intermediate member.

9. For use in a building, a combined structural and air conditioning system for handling large volumes of air comprising a plurality of inverted U-shaped structural members adapted to extend in side-by-side relation across horizontal supports to provide a structural support,

each said member having a length many times its width and height,

each said member being generally rectangular in cross section,

at least some of said members having a substantially flat bottom diffuser member closing the underside thereof and defining a structural cell having a length many times its width and height which forms an air conduit,

each said structural cell which forms an air conduit having intermediate metering members extending longitudinally thereof,

each said bottom difiuser member having openings therethrough spaced along the length thereof in a uniform distribution,

, each said intermediate metering member extending across substantially the entire Width of its respective cell and having the major portion thereof intermediate its side edges spaced from the bottom diffuser member,

each said intermediate member dividing its respective cell into a main chamber and a secondary chamber adjacent said diffuser member, each said major portion of said metering member having openings spaced along the length thereof in a uniform distribution and having their axes at an angle to the direction of how of air through said cell,

means for introducing air into each said structural cell which forms an air conduit,

the aggregate area of the uniformly distributed openings in the metering member being less than the aggregate area of the uniformly distributed openings in the bottom member such that the velocity energy of a high volume of air moving into said cell is converted to static pressure along the length of the cell and the air is caused to move through the openings in the metering member at a relatively high velocity and the ratio of the velocity pressure through the openings in the metering member to the static pressure of the air above the metering member at the inlet being not less than 0.8 and the static pressure drop from the inlet to said air cell to the extreme end of said air cell being not greater than 0.2. 10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein each said structural cell which forms an air conduit includes a battle Wall portion against which air passing through the metering member is directed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Calafati 98-31 X Macdonald 98-31 X Goemann 98-31 X Rachlin 98-40 Rachlin 9840 Pennati 984() 10 EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner. 

1. IN A BUILDING, A COMBINED STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR HANDLING LARGE VOLUMES OF AIR COMPRISING SPACED APART HORIZONTAL SUPPORTS, A PLURALITY OF STRUCTURAL CELLS EXTENDING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION ACROSS SAID SUPPORTS, EACH SAID CELL HAVING A LENGTH MANY TIMES ITS WIDTH AND HEIGHT, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID STRUCTURAL CELLS DEFINING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AIR CONDUITS, AN INSULATING MATERIAL OVER SAID STRUCTURAL CELLS, EACH SAID STRUCTURAL CELL HAVING A BOTTOM DIFFUSER MEMBER WITH OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, EACH SAID STRUCTURAL CELL WHICH DEFINES AN AIR CONDUIT HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE METERING EXTENDING ALONG SUSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER DIVIDING SAID CELL INTO A MAIN CHAMBER AND A SECONDARY CHAMBER ADJACENT SAID DIFFUSER MEMBER, EACH SAID METERING MEMBER HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF SPACED FROM THE DIFFUSER MEMBER AND HAVING OPENINGS ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID OPENINGS IN EACH SAID METERING MEMBER BEING POSITIONED SUCH THAT THE AXIS THEREOF IS AT AN ANGLE TO THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID CONDUITS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING AIR TO EACH SAID CONDUIT HAVING A METERING MEMBER ABOVE SAID DIFFUSER MEMBER, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID OPENINGS IN SAID METERING MEMBER HAVING THEIR AXES EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT THE AIR IS DIRECTED THROUGH THE METERING MEMBER AT AN ANGLE OTHER THAN PERPENDICULAR WITH RESPECT TO THE GENERAL PLASNE OF SAID DIFFUSER MEMBER, THE AGGREGATE AREA OF THE OPENINGS IN SAID METERING MEMBER BEING LESS THAN THE AGGREGATE AREA OF THE OPENINGS IN SAID DIFFUSER MEMBER SUCH THAT A SUBSTANTIAL STATIC PRESSURE IS CREATED IN EACHH SAID AIR CONDUIT AND THE RATIO OF THE VELOCITY PRESSURE IN THE OPENINGS IN SAID METERING MEMBER TO THE STATIC PRESSURE IN SAID AIR CONDUIT IS RELATIVELY HIGH, EACH SAID STRUCTURAL CELL DEFINING AN AIR CONDUIT INCLUDING A BAFFLE WALL PORTION AGAINST WHICH THE AIR PASSING THROUGH THE METERING MEMBER IS DIRECTED. 